Obituaries
Claude M. Stubbs Jr.
Claude M. Stubbs Jr. passed away peacefully Saturday night (Aug. 16, 2014) after an extended illness.
He was born in Douglas Nov. 11, 1928 to Claude M. Stubbs Sr. and Alma Veal Stubbs.
They moved to Waycross in 1935.
He was educated in Waycross public schools and graduated from Waycross High School
in 1945. He attended Davidson College from 1946 to 1947 and attended Emory University
in Atlanta from 1948 to 1950. He received his B.A. degree from Emory University in 1950.
He returned to Waycross to operate the family railroad and cross-tie business and joined the
Georgia Air National Guard.
He served his country for three years in the United States Air Force, during the Korean
Stubbs
War, until 1951. After returning home from service, he resumed working for the family
cross-tie business. He became an agent for New York Life Insurance in 1958 and worked
until his semi-retirement on July 1, 1988 and full retirement in 2012. He was a past president of the Waycross
Association of Life Underwriters.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church and served faithfully as a member of the choir and Adult
Bible class. He also served as the grounds chairman and was in charge of landscaping for the church for a number of years.
He was an active member of the community. He was a member and served as past president of the Waycross
Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Satilla River Club and a former member of the
Elks Club.
He was an avid outdoorsman and loved fishing, golf, and gardening. The most important things in life to
him were his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his family, his friends, and his work (providing financial security
through insurance for others).
He was predeceased by his parents, his beloved wife, Lillian M. Stubbs, his sister, Mary Jane Patterson, his
niece, Mary Petrocelli, and his brother-in-law, Robert P. Patterson.
He is survived by his daughters, Claudia A. Stubbs, of Jacksonville, Fla., Sylvia S. Murphy; son-in-law, Commander Ryan Murphy; grandchildren, Reagan and Davis Murphy, of Virginia Beach, Va.’ and many nephews,
cousins and beloved friends.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Oakland
Cemetery.
The family will be receiving friends at Miles-Odum Funeral Home Friday from 5 until 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 410 Williams Street, Waycross, Ga.
31501.
Sympathy may be expressed online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com
Miles-Odum Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
A.W. James
A.W. James, 93, of Ponce Inlet, Fla., passed away peacefully at home Thursday (Aug. 14, 2014) surrounded
by family and friends.
Born in Blackshear on Feb. 17, 1921 to the late Duncan and Mary Coleman James, he was the fourth of five
children. He attended Georgia Tech University and served in the U.S. Navy as an officer during World War II
and the Korean War.
He moved to Daytona Beach, Fla., in 1949 with his wife Anne Estes James. There they owned and managed
the Seashore Motel from 1949 to 1984.
They moved to Ponce Inlet in 1986 where he served on many town boards and as councilman.
Known as “Boo” by his seven grandchildren, he loved to fish, golf and care for his family. He touched many
with his generous spirit, giving so much of himself to family and friends. He will be remembered with a giant
smile on his face.
He is survived by his daughters, Jan Snook (Maurice), of Charleston, S.C., Mary Anne James, of Ponce Inlet;
son, Wade James (Mirella), of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and grandchildren, J.C. Conway, James Conway, Joseph
Conway, Ben James, Laura James, Jenna James, Jonathan Oulton; and many devoted nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at Patterson Baptist Church in Patterson on Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. The family
will receive friends after the service in the church social hall.
Condolences may be sent to Wade James at [email protected]
Lamar Thornton
Lamar Thornton, 44, died suddenly Monday (Aug. 18, 2014) at his residence.
He was a native and lifelong resident of Waycross where he graduated from Ware County High School and
Ware Tech. He was employed as an auto mechanic for Harry’s Auto. Lamar was also a member of Deenwood
Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Brookie Thornton, and Homer and Ora Lee Brown Corbitt.
Survivors include two daughters, Sarah Thornton (companion Lisa Manning), of Blackshear, and Candace
Thornton, of Waycross; one son, Homer Thornton, of Jesup; two grandchildren, Amanda Harte Thornton and
Cole Bradley Thornton; one grandson on the way; his parents, Carl and Darlene Corbitt Thornton, of Waycross; one brother, Gregory Scott Thornton (wife Christina), of Waycross; two nieces, Lex and Leah; a nephew,
Camdyn; his grandmother, Elvera Thomas Thornton, of Hoboken; and numerous other relatives.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Music Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Oakland
Cemetery.
The family will be receiving friends from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.musicfuneralhome.com
HealthCare, Homerville, following an extended illness.
He was born Nov. 3, 1943 in Ware County to the late James Boyles and Nice Griffin Boyles. He was a retired machinist for B-Way with 44 years of service. He was a member of Shiloh Southern Congregational
Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by one brother, John Boyles.
Survivors are his wife, Peggy Janell Lee Boyles, of Homerville; two sons and daughter-in-law, Joe Sherrod
III and Robert Jerome and Kim Sherrod, all of Homerville; two sisters, Sharon Ellis, of Homerville, and Tommie Marie Powers, of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; one sister-in-law, Joan Boyles, of Homerville; one grandson,
Kameron Rogers, of Homerville; his special companion, Rambo; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A funeral will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Shiloh Southern Congregational Methodist Church.
Interment will be in the Shiloh Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The body will be carried to
the church one hour prior to the services.
Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.roundtreefuneralhome.net
Roundtree Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Frederick ‘Fred’ Mercer
BLACKSHEAR — Frederick Joseph “Fred” Mercer, 88, of Blackshear, passed away Tuesday morning (Aug.
19, 2014) at his residence following a lengthy illness.
Born in Baldwin, N.Y., on Oct. 2, 1925, he had lived in Catlett, Va., for many years before moving to Blackshear in 2000. He was a U.S. Army veteran having served during World War II and was retired from Suburban
Propane in Gainesville, Va., after 24 years of service. While working for Suburban Propane, he received the Safe
Driving Award every year for his driving. He was a member of New Life Assembly of God, loved to hunt and
was just an all-around nice guy.
He was a son of the late James William and Florence Johnson Mercer. He was also preceded in death by his
wife, Birdie Mae Herrin Mercer, a son, Frederick James “Jimmy” Mercer, a grandson, Donald Mercer, and his
sister, Peggy Whynot.
Survivors include his son, John Mercer and Debra Powell, of Charleston, S.C.; his brother and sister-in-law,
Paul and Phyllis Mercer, of Spring Hill, Fla.; three grandchildren, Sean (Pat) Mercer, Eric Mercer, and Steven
(Missy) Smyth; 12 great-grandchildren; a special friend, Robbie Thigpen, of Waycross; and several nieces,
nephews and other relatives.
A funeral will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon at New Life Assembly of God.
Interment will be in the New Hope Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Odum.
Visitation will be held Friday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.
The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, Ga. 31501.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of the arrangements.
Mildred Iona Parker
HORTENSE — Mildred Iona Wilson Parker, 70, of Hortense, passed away Tuesday evening (Aug. 19, 2014)
at her residence following an extended illnesss.
Born in Brunswick, her parents were the late George Wilson and Lougene Justice Wilson. She was also preceded in death by her son, Ricky Benjamin Crews, her brother, Harry Wilson, and a sister, Lois Crews.
She was a homemaker, and she enjoyed painting, cooking, fishing and gardening.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Robert Lee Pike Jr. (Darlene), of Hilliard; two daughters and
sons-in-law, Anna Leggett (Isreal), of Brunswick, and Dianne Joiner (Charlie), of Hortense; three brothers and
sisters-in-law, Willie Wilson, of Hortense, George Wilson (Linda), of Eulonia, and Glynn Wilson (Debbie), of
Brunswick; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruby Cribbs (Bruce), of Hilliard, Melvie Mauney, of Brunswick,
Ruth McLeod (Wayne), of Brunswick, Vila Vanderay, of Hortense; and many special friends and other relatives.
A funeral will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Frye Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Burial will follow in Bethlehem Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Charlie Joiner, Wayne McLeod, Richard Vanderay, Isreal Leggett and Ashley Aldridge.
Arrangements are with Frye Funeral Home, Nahunta.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at fryefh.com
Patricia Gail Peeples
BLACKSHEAR — Patricia Gail Peeples, 55, of Blackshear, passed away Monday (Aug. 18, 2014) in Jesup
after a short illness.
Born in Chicago, Ill., on Feb. 18, 1959, she had lived in Blackshear since the late 1990s. She had worked as
a sitter and was a loving mother and sister.
She was a daughter of the late Neil Arnold Peeples. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Glenda Keiser,
and two brothers, Roy Peeples and Earl Peeples.
Survivors include her son, Craig Porter ,of Pasadena, Texas; her mother, Mary Etta Accord Peeples (Tony
Young), of Tallahassee, Fla.; two sisters, Jan (Jack) Beckham, of Columbia, S.C., and Judy (Royce) Tuten, of
Blackshear; four brothers, James Donnie Peeples, of Waycross, and David A. Peeples, Kenny (Janet) Peeples
and Vince (Darby) Peeples, all of Blackshear; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
The funeral will be held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon at the Pearson-Dial Chapel.
Interment will be in the Oakland Cemetery.
Visitation will be held this evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choosing.
James ‘J.W.’ Boyles
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com
HOMERVILLE — James William “J.W.” Boyles, 70, passed away Wednesday (Aug. 20, 2014) in the Clinch
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of the arrangements.